KARACHI, Pakistan — Jamaat‑i‑Islami (JI) has strongly rejected the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), describing the decision as a “big mistake” and warning that the move could have serious implications for the country’s strategic and economic interests. The party’s leadership criticised the government for handing over the national carrier, long regarded as a symbol of Pakistan’s identity, to private ownership without ensuring accountability for decades of mismanagement.
Speaking at a press conference, JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that selling PIA was both shameful and harmful to the nation, emphasising that the airline is a strategic asset that should remain under state control. He argued that successive governments, including PML‑N, PPP, PTI, and PML‑Q, alongside appointed officials, had allowed corruption, fictitious appointments, and mismanagement to erode the airline’s operational and financial health over decades. Instead of addressing these issues, the government chose to privatise the airline, a decision the party described as counterproductive.
Rehman criticised the valuation and sale process, noting that the reported Rs135 billion price tag was misleading since most of the amount represented reinvestment commitments rather than immediate revenue for the national exchequer. He stressed that PIA’s global assets, including landing rights in 78 countries and an extensive international route network, far exceeded the value reflected in the sale.
The JI leader also raised concerns about the entities involved in the transaction, particularly the Fauji Foundation, questioning whether handing PIA to an organisation with state affiliations truly constituted privatisation. He warned that such a move undermines transparency and the rationale for selling a national asset.
While reiterating that the party does not oppose private sector participation in principle, Rehman highlighted PIA’s symbolic and strategic importance, insisting that privatisation without accountability for past failures was neither fair nor in the nation’s long-term interest. He cautioned that the sale could compromise national pride, operational autonomy, and economic security.
The controversy surrounding PIA’s privatisation comes as the government proceeds with plans to implement the sale, citing broader economic reforms and obligations under international financial arrangements aimed at reviving state-owned enterprises. Political analysts suggest that the airline’s transition will remain a focal point of public debate, with implications for both national identity and economic policy.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.